Atherosclerosis is systematic inflammatory disease which affects major arteries including coronary arteries. The essence of pathophysiological process lies in forming atherosclerotic lesions, which includes: accumulation of cholesterol esters, monocyte-macrophage migration and accumulation of fibrous elements in vessel intimal layer. Rupture of such lesion results in thrombus formation and vessel lumen obstruction causing myocardial infarction, cerebral insult or peripheral artery disease. Macrophages have an important role in this process. Accumulation of macrophage foam cells in atherosclerotic plaques results in predominantly from macrophage proliferation which migrates in affected area [1] .

Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a member of a galectin family involved in numerous physiological and pathological processes such as inflammation and formation of fibrous tissue [2] . It is found in a wide range of tissues and is essential for normal macrophage functioning [3] [4] . In animal model, adding a granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor resulted in 6-fold higher expression of Gal-3 following macrophages activation and it can be concluded that Gal-3 has dependent stimulatory effect on macrophage [2] [5] . Several authors have proved an association between Gal-3 level, cardiac fibrosis and remodeling. Galectin-3 is also a marker of heart failure, regardless of left ventricle ejection fraction. It was next logical step to investigate association between Gal-3 level and atherosclerosis. Nachtigal reported an increased level of Gal-3 in atherosclerotic plaques [6] . Gal-3 level is much higher in patients with unstable coronary disease, which leads to conclusion that Gal-3 can be involved in atherosclerotic plaque destabilization [7] .

Atherosclerosis, as a systemic disease, can’t be observed only trough classic risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus or dyslipidemia. This is complicated process where monocyte-macrophages and inflammatory cytokines play an important role.

Despite efforts to keeping risk factors under control, many patients have recurrent vascular events as a result of ongoing atherosclerotic process, increased activity of monocyte-macrophage system and increased level of galectin-3. Inflammation and oxidative stress are underlying mechanism of Gal-3 involvement in atherosclerotic process. Galectin-3 expression is enhanced in macrophages and vessels smooth muscle cells to mediate foam cells development [8] . Figure 1 represents potential mechanism of galectin-3 role in atherosclerotic process.

Madrigal-Matute in his study showed that phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) induce Gal-3 expression and mediate in model of THP-1 in macrophage differentiation. On the other hand, apocynin reverse this effect indicating that Gal-3 induction by PMA depends on NADPH/ROS system [9] . Gal-3 also participates in the production of superoxide in monocytes implying that Gal-3 is part of closed circuit between oxidative stress and inflammation process [10] . There is observed correlation between Gal-3 level and NADPH oxidase-dependent superoxide production in asymptomatic patients diagnosed with atherothrombosis.

Besides NADPH, other enzymes also plays an important role in atherosclerotic processes (lipoxygenase, xanthine oxidase, NO synthase) [11] .

Galectin-3 can be intracellular or extracellular. Intracellular Gal-3 participates in cells signalization and migration, as well as in apoptosis. Extracellular Gal-3 intermediates adhesion, cytokine production, chemo adhesion and receptor function. Monocytes relies Gal-3 which increase exosomes expression mediated by ROS. IncreasedGal-3 plasma levels are founded in patients exosomes suffering from atherosclerosis, even asymptomatic [9] .

As already mentioned before, Gal-3 is chemo attractant for monocyte-macrophages cells, therefore it’s possible that Gal-3 participate in atherosclerotic plaque progression. Gal-3 stimulate, in vitro and in vivo, monocyte/macrophage chemotaxis [12] .

MacKinnon et al. in their study reported reduced plaque formation when Gal-3 is deleted from the outset, despite high cholesterol intake and high serum cholesterol level [12] . Authors propose strategy of blocking a galectin-3, resulting of plaque formation inhibition without affecting plaque stability [12] . Authors used a modified citrus pectin (MCP), a natural pectin found in the citrus fruit peel and pulp. MCP inhibits Gal-3 function in vitro and in vivo [13] [14] [15] . In animal model of ApoE^−/− mice with high cholesterol intake administration of 1% MCP reduced plaque progression compared with placebo. Mice deficient in Gal-3 had a reversal effect on iNOS and arginase activity, reduced macrophages M2 activity and reduced atherosclerotic plaque progression [12] .

Galectin-3 is well investigated in heart failure (HF) pathophysiology, and has diagnostic and prognostic value. In contrast to other HF markers, such as NTproBNP or troponin, galectin-3 doesn’t show a fluctuation in serum level, once elevated remains increased in majority of cases and isn’t affected by standard HF medical treatment [16] .

Clinical Gal-3 significance inhuman atherosclerotic process is less known. Despite this, there are articles reporting importance and association between galectin-3 and atherosclerosis in humans.

According to available studies data, Gal-3 level correlate with sex, body mass index, diuretic therapy usage, triglycerides serum level, homocystein plasma level and is inversely proportional to glomerular filtration rate [17] . Homocystein stimulates activity of nuclear factor kB―an inducer of Gal-3, therefore homocystein lowering agents can contribute to lowering Gal-3 level [18] [19] .

One of the indirect evidence of galectin-3 pivotal role in the inflammation and atherosclerosis process is presented by Tsail et al. study. Compared to healthy patients control group, patients diagnosed with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) had much higher Gal-3 level, and higher WBC count―as index of inflammation [20] . Also, multivessel coronary patients had higher level of Gal-3 than control group, and multi vessel disease correlates with higher Gal-3 level and WBC count [20] . Considering the fact those were STEMI patients, many with multi vessel disease, we can conclude Gal-3 plays an important role in inflammation process and atherosclerotic plaque progression, but it predict also instability and possible plaque rupture [20] . Same study has confirmed that patients with Gal-3 higher level had worse clinical presentation, higher Killip and CADILLAC score and higher indication for IABP usage Gal-3. Elevated Gal-3 can be an indicator for heart failure development rafter AMI and is strong predictor of 30-day major adverse events for patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention [20] .

Higher serum level of Gal-3 is observed in patients diagnosed with unstable coronary heart disease (CHD). There is a significant association between Gal-3 serum level and number of affected coronary blood vessels [7] . Long term follow up has shown Gal-3 as a cardiovascular events and mortality predictor for patients diagnosed with CHD [17] [21] . High Gal-3 level is present in patients with carotid atherosclerotic disease and strongly correlates with intima media thickness ratio [9] . In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DMT2), the degree of CHD was evaluated with CT angiography is compared to Gal-3 serum level. It is confirmed by this trial that higher level of Gal-3 strongly correlate with CHD, total number of affected arteries, number of plaques and calcified plaque types [22] . Kusaka had similar result for patients with CHD without DMT2 [23] . In the same article, authors have found high Gal-3 serum level association with a Gensini score, which implies a strong relationship between Gal-3 and severity of CHD [23] . Observed significant association between serum Gal-3 level and hs-CRP, as marker of inflammatory atherosclerotic process [24] , number of affected coronary arteries, Gensini score, WBC could be a marker of severity of CHD, supporting of Gal-3 major role in atherosclerotic process [25] .

It is only a matter of time before galectin-3 becomes a reality in everyday clinical practice. As one of the new markers for heart failure, galectin-3 is mentioned in the new ESC guidelines for the heart failure treatment. Galectin-3 measurement may be a significant factor in making a treatment decisions in coronary heart disease and heart failure, but also in heart failure caused by coronary heart disease. Gal-3 levels are directly associated with severity of CHD , as well as with remodeling and fibrotic process in the myocardium, which implicate an importance of galectin-3 in both pathophysiological processes. Future investigations are needed to assess utility of galectin-3 for prediction of atherosclerotic disease as well as heart failure development. Gal-3 can be used as a target molecule for development of disease modifying agent which could have a direct impact on the pathological processes of CHD and HF, affecting the stability of the disease, quality of life, need for hospitalization and revascularization in those patients.

Bošnjak, I., Bedeković, D., Selthofer-Relatić, K. and Bilić-Ćurčić, I. (2017) Galectin-3: A Heart Failure Biomarker as Sign of Active Coronary Heart Disease. World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases, 7, 373-379. https://doi.org/10.4236/wjcd.2017.711035